Publications

systematic revision of the adeleid haemogregarines, with creation of bartazoon n. g., reassignment of hepatozoon argantis garnham, 1954 to hemolivia, and molecular data on hemolivia stellata.	life cycles and molecular data for terrestrial haemogregarines are reviewed in this article. collection material was re-examined: hepatozoon argantis garnham, 1954 in argas brumpti was reassigned to hemolivia as hemolivia argantis (garnham, 1954) n. comb.; parasite dna was extracted from a tick crush on smear of an archived slide of hemolivia stellata in amblyomma rotondatum, then the 18s ssrrna gene was amplified by pcr. a systematic revision of the group is proposed, based on biological life c ...	2015	26551414
anaplasma infection of bactrian camels (camelus bactrianus) and ticks in xinjiang, china.	to date, anaplasmosis has been reported to be a subclinical disease in indian and arabian one-humped camels (camelus dromedarius) and llamas (lama glama). however, no information on anaplasma infection in two-humped bactrian camels (camelus bactrianus) in china has been published to date. the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anaplasma spp. in domestic bactrian camels and ticks in xinjiang, china.	2015	26055661
native strains of beauveria bassiana for the control of rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato.	rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks are widespread worldwide due to their adaptability to survive under different environmental conditions. they may act as vectors of a wide range of pathogens to humans and animals and their control is based on the use of chemical products on dogs and in the environment. alternative control strategies, such as the use of entomopathogenic fungi as bio-control agents have also been investigated. the ability of native strains of beauveria bassiana sensu lato ...	2015	25651851
missed retained tick: "look for the legs".		2015	26900234
propagation of the israeli vaccine strain of anaplasma centrale in tick cell lines.	anaplasma centrale has been used in cattle as a live blood vaccine against the more pathogenic anaplasma marginale for over 100 years. while a. marginale can be propagated in vitro in tick cell lines, facilitating studies on antigen production, immunisation and vector-pathogen interaction, to date there has been no in vitro culture system for a. centrale. in the present study, 25 cell lines derived from 13 ixodid tick species were inoculated with the israeli vaccine strain of a. centrale and mon ...	2015	26210950
partial characterization of a novel anti-inflammatory protein from salivary gland extract of hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum 77acari: ixodidae) ticks.	hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum ticks transmit theileria annulata, causative agent of tropical theileriosis to cattle and buffaloes causing a major economic loss in terms of production and mortality in tropical countries. ticks have evolved several immune evading strategies to circumvent hosts' rejection and achieve engorgement. successful feeding of ticks relies on a pharmacy of chemicals located in their complex salivary glands and secreted saliva. these chemicals in saliva could inhibit host i ...	2015	27065646
satellite hyperspectral imagery to support tick-borne infectious diseases surveillance.	this study proposed the use of satellite hyperspectral imagery to support tick-borne infectious diseases surveillance based on monitoring the variation in amplifier hosts food sources. to verify this strategy, we used the data of the human rickettsiosis occurrences in southeastern brazil, region in which the emergence of this disease is associated with the rising capybara population. spatio-temporal analysis based on monte carlo simulations was used to identify risk areas of human rickettsiosis ...	2015	26599337
detection of theileria orientalis genotypes in haemaphysalis longicornis ticks from southern australia.	theileria are blood-borne intracellular protozoal parasites belonging to the phylum apicomplexa. previously considered a benign parasite in australia, outbreaks of clinical disease resulting from theileria orientalis genotypes have been reported in australia since 2006. since this time, outbreaks have become widespread in south-eastern australia, resulting in significant adverse impacts on local dairy and beef industries. this paper provides the first investigation into the possible biological a ...	2015	25889204
speculations on biting midges and other bloodsucking arthropods as alternative vectors of leishmania.	sand flies remain the only proven vectors of leishmania spp. but recent implementation of pcr techniques has led to increasing speculation about "alternative vectors", including biting midges. here, we summarize that pcr has considerable limits for studing the role of bloodsucking arthropods in the epidemiology of leishmaniasis. the leishmania life cycle in the sand fly includes a complex series of interactions which are in many cases species-specific, the early phase of the infection is, howeve ...	2014	24884857
first molecular evidence of hepatozoon canis infection in red foxes and golden jackals from hungary.	recently, hepatozoon canis infection has been detected among shepherd, hunting and stray dogs in the southern part of hungary, which is considered to be free of rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato and close to the border with croatia. the aim of this study was to acquire information on the possibility that red foxes and/or golden jackals could play a role in the appearance and spread of h. canis in hungary.	2014	24985073
dogs, cats, parasites, and humans in brazil: opening the black box.	dogs and cats in brazil serve as primary hosts for a considerable number of parasites, which may affect their health and wellbeing. these may include endoparasites (e.g., protozoa, cestodes, trematodes, and nematodes) and ectoparasites (i.e., fleas, lice, mites, and ticks). while some dog and cat parasites are highly host-specific (e.g., aelurostrongylus abstrusus and felicola subrostratus for cats, and angiostrongylus vasorum and trichodectes canis for dogs), others may easily switch to other h ...	2014	24423244
genetic identification of rickettsial isolates from fatal cases of brazilian spotted fever and comparison with rickettsia rickettsii isolates from the american continents.	fifteen bacterial isolates from spotted fever group rickettsiosis in brazil were genetically identified as rickettsia rickettsii. in a phylogenetic analysis with other r. rickettsii isolates from genbank, the central/south american isolates showed low polymorphism and formed a clade distinct from two north american clades, with the north american clades having greater in-branch polymorphism.	2014	25078908
species diversity and distribution of ticks (acari: ixodidae) in zabol county, eastern iran.	ticks are important vectors of human and animal pathogens. they are considered as main vectors for transmission of many viral, bacterial, rickettsial and parasitical pathogens. the aim of the present study was to find out species diversity of ticks, which infested the domestic ruminants in zabol county, eastern iran in 2012.	2014	26114136
the first german map of georeferenced ixodid tick locations.	georeferenced locations of ixodid ticks are required to depict the observed distribution of species. further, they are used as input data for species distribution models also known as niche models. the latter were applied to describe current and future (projected) tick distributions. beside model assumptions and selected climate parameters, the number of georeferenced tick locations available as a digital dataset is of fundamental importance for the reliability of such models. for germany, howev ...	2014	25301245
sensitivity to permethrin in a dermacentor reticulatus population from eastern poland in laboratory study.	the action of chemical compounds on the palaearctic tick d. reticulatus (fabricius) (acari: amblyomminae) has been poorly investigated so far. therefore, the effects of application of permethrin on engorged d. reticulatus females have been assessed, and the survival rate for the different developmental stages of the tick species in its non-parasitic phase of the life cycle was determined upon application of the pyrethroid.	2014	24405550
ixodes pacificus ticks maintain embryogenesis and egg hatching after antibiotic treatment of rickettsia endosymbiont.	rickettsia is a genus of intracellular bacteria that causes a variety of diseases in humans and other mammals and associates with a diverse group of arthropods. although rickettsia appears to be common in ticks, most rickettsia-tick relationships remain generally uncharacterized. the most intimate of these associations is rickettsia species phylotype g021, a maternally and transstadially transmitted endosymbiont that resides in 100% of i. pacificus in california. we investigated the effects of t ...	2014	25105893
experimental infection of rhipicephalus sanguineus with ehrlichia chaffeensis.	ehrlichia chaffeensis, the etiologic agent of human monocytic ehrlichiosis, is a tick-borne rickettsial pathogen that is infective to a wide range of mammals, including dogs and people. amblyomma americanum, the lone star tick, is considered the primary vector of e. chaffeensis, but this pathogen has been detected in other tick species, including the brown dog tick, rhipicephalus sanguineus. we hypothesized that the arkansas strain of e. chaffeensis is infective to r. sanguineus, and used a nove ...	2014	24894131
climate and environmental change drives ixodes ricinus geographical expansion at the northern range margin.	global environmental change is causing spatial and temporal shifts in the distribution of species and the associated diseases of humans, domesticated animals and wildlife. in the on-going debate on the influence of climate change on vectors and vector-borne diseases, there is a lack of a comprehensive interdisciplinary multi-factorial approach utilizing high quality spatial and temporal data.	2014	24401487
cockroach, tick, storage mite and other arthropod allergies: where do we stand with molecular allergy diagnostics?: part 15 of the series molecular allergology.	arthropods form a broad phylum within the animal kingdom, comprising widely varying members such as insects, arachnids, crabs and centipedes. in addition to common allergies to house dust mites or hymenoptera venom, there are also rarer allergies that can be attributed to three major sources of allergens: cockroaches, ticks and storage mites. other less known allergen sources include spiders, mosquitos, horseflies, red chironomid larvae, silverfish and ladybugs, as well as a variety of storage p ...	2014	26146603
spotted fever group rickettsiae in multiple hard tick species from fairfax county, virginia.	spotted fever group rickettsiosis (sfgr) is a potentially fatal disease that has displayed increasing incidence in the united states in recent years. the most well-known and severe type of this disease is rocky mountain spotted fever, but there are other mild forms that occur. recently, human infection with rickettsia parkeri has been reported and linked with the tick amblyomma maculatum. in 2010, a population of r. parkeri-infected a. maculatum was discovered in fairfax county, virginia, leadin ...	2014	24978651
absence of antibodies to rickettsia spp., bartonella spp., ehrlichia spp. and coxiella burnetii in tahiti, french polynesia.	in the pacific islands countries and territories, very little is known about the incidence of infectious diseases due to zoonotic pathogens. to our knowledge, human infections due to rickettsia spp., coxiella burnetii, ehrlichia spp. and bartonella spp. have never been reported in french polynesia; and infections due to c. burnetti have been reported worldwide except in new zealand. to evaluate the prevalence of this disease, we conducted a serosurvey among french polynesian blood donors.	2014	24885466
anaplasma platys in bone marrow megakaryocytes of young dogs.	anaplasma platys is an obligate intracellular rickettsial pathogen that infects platelets of dogs, forming basophilic intracellular morulae. in the present report, cellular inclusions were documented in bone marrow thrombocyte precursors of two young naturally infected dogs, indicating that a. platys can infect megakaryocytes and promegakaryocytes.	2014	24622106
emerging and re-emerging zoonoses of dogs and cats.	since the middle of the 20th century, pets are more frequently considered as "family members" within households. however, cats and dogs still can be a source of human infection by various zoonotic pathogens. among emerging or re-emerging zoonoses, viral diseases, such as rabies (mainly from dog pet trade or travel abroad), but also feline cowpox and newly recognized noroviruses or rotaviruses or influenza viruses can sicken our pets and be transmitted to humans. bacterial zoonoses include bacter ...	2014	26480316
dual silencing of long and short amblyomma americanum acidic chitinase forms weakens the tick cement cone stability.	this study demonstrates that amblyomma americanum (aam) constitutively and ubiquitously expresses the long (l) and short (s) putative acidic chitinases (ach) that are distinguished by a 210 base pair (bp) deletion in aamach-s. full-length aamach-l and aamach-s cdna are 1959 and 1718 bp long, containing 1332 and 1104 bp open reading frames that code for 443 and 367 amino acid residues proteins with the former predicted to be extracellular and the latter intracellular. both aamach-l and aamach-s m ...	2014	25189365
detection of rickettsia rickettsii, rickettsia parkeri, and rickettsia akari in skin biopsy specimens using a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assay.	rickettsia rickettsii, rickettsia parkeri, and rickettsia akari are the most common causes of spotted fever group rickettsioses indigenous to the united states. infected patients characteristically present with a maculopapular rash, often accompanied by an inoculation eschar. skin biopsy specimens are often obtained from these lesions for diagnostic evaluation. however, a species-specific diagnosis is achieved infrequently from pathologic specimens because immunohistochemical stains do not diffe ...	2014	24829214
seasonal dynamics of rhipicephalus rossicus attacking domestic dogs from the steppic region of southeastern romania.	danube delta biosphere reserve is one of the most interesting regions in europe from an epidemiological point of view due to its great biodiversity, local climatic conditions and various types of habitats. moreover, there is no data regarding the ectoparasite communities of dogs from this area. in this frame, the aims of our study were to establish the tick communities parasitizing dogs and to provide new data regarding seasonal dynamics of a neglected tick species, rhipicephalus rossicus.	2014	24612483
transcriptome of the female synganglion of the black-legged tick ixodes scapularis (acari: ixodidae) with comparison between illumina and 454 systems.	illumina and 454 pyrosequencing were used to characterize genes from the synganglion of female ixodes scapularis. go term searching success for biological processes was similar for samples sequenced by both methods. however, for molecular processes, it was more successful for the illumina samples than for 454 samples. functional assignments of transcripts predicting neuropeptides, neuropeptide receptors, neurotransmitter receptors and other genes of interest was done, supported by strong e-value ...	2014	25075967
the salivary secretome of the biting midge, culicoides sonorensis.	culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae) are hematophagous insects with over 1400 species distributed throughout the world. many of these species are of particular agricultural importance as primary vectors of bluetongue and schmallenberg viruses, yet little is known about culicoides genomics and proteomics. detailed studies of members from other blood-feeding dipteran families, including those of mosquito (culicidae) and black fly (simuliidae), have shown that protein components with ...	2014	24949243
rural residents in china are at increased risk of exposure to tick-borne pathogens anaplasma phagocytophilum and ehrlichia chaffeensis.	as emerging tick born rickettsial diseases caused by a. phagocytophilum and e. chaffeensis, anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis have become a serious threat to human and animal health throughout the world. in particular, in china, an unusual transmission of nosocomial cases of human granulocytic anaplasmosis occurred in anhui province in 2006 and more recent coinfection case of a. phagocytophilum and e. chaffeensis was documented in shandong province. although the seroprevalence of human granulocytic ...	2014	24877080
assessment of four dna fragments (coi, 16s rdna, its2, 12s rdna) for species identification of the ixodida (acari: ixodida).	the 5' region of cytochrome oxidase i (coi) is the standard marker for dna barcoding. however, coi has proved to be of limited use in identifying some species, and for some taxa, the coding sequence is not efficiently amplified by pcr. these deficiencies lead to uncertainty as to whether coi is the most suitable barcoding fragment for species identification of ticks.	2014	24589289
rickettsia africae and candidatus rickettsia barbariae in ticks in israel.	dna of several spotted fever group rickettsiae was found in ticks in israel. the findings include evidence for the existence of rickettsia africae and candidatus rickettsia barbariae in ticks in israel. the dna of r. africae was detected in a hyalomma detritum tick from a wild boar and dna of c. rickettsia barbariae was detected in rhipicephalus turanicus and rhipicephalus sanguineus collected from vegetation. the dna of rickettsia massiliae was found in rh. sanguineus and haemaphysalis erinacei ...	2014	24615133
current status of l. infantum infection in stray cats in the madrid region (spain): implications for the recent outbreak of human leishmaniosis?	since 2009, the incidence of human leishmaniosis in the sw of the madrid region has been unusually high. although dogs are the main reservoir for this disease, a role played by dogs in this outbreak has been ruled out and investigators are now considering other hosts (eg. cats, rabbits, hares) as possible alternative reservoirs.this study was designed to examine the leishmania infantum status of stray cats in madrid to assess its possible implications in the human leishmaniosis outbreak.	2014	24655361
first detection of leishmania infantum (kinetoplastida: trypanosomatidae) in culicoides spp. (diptera: ceratopogonidae).	culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) species are known to be the vectors of bluetongue virus and african horses sickness virus (ahsv) in different areas of the world. nevertheless, other researchers have hypothesized that these arthropods could be involved in the transmission of other pathogens such as schmallenberg virus, plasmodium and leishmania parasites. identification of the culicoides' potential vector competence is crucial in understanding the worldwide culicoides/leishmania life cycle.	2014	24460752
a tick-borne segmented rna virus contains genome segments derived from unsegmented viral ancestors.	although segmented and unsegmented rna viruses are commonplace, the evolutionary links between these two very different forms of genome organization are unclear. we report the discovery and characterization of a tick-borne virus--jingmen tick virus (jmtv)--that reveals an unexpected connection between segmented and unsegmented rna viruses. the jmtv genome comprises four segments, two of which are related to the nonstructural protein genes of the genus flavivirus (family flaviviridae), whereas th ...	2014	24753611
molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens in captive wild felids, zimbabwe.	the populations of wild felids in africa, of especially lions (panthera leo) and cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus), are declining and the species are classified as vulnerable to extinction by the international union for conservation of nature. as infections with tick-borne pathogens (tbp) can become more of a problem in wild felids, there are relatively few studies on tbp in wild felids in africa and on how these infections might influence population numbers.	2014	25404084
are ticks venomous animals?	as an ecological adaptation venoms have evolved independently in several species of metazoa. as haematophagous arthropods ticks are mainly considered as ectoparasites due to directly feeding on the skin of animal hosts. ticks are of major importance since they serve as vectors for several diseases affecting humans and livestock animals. ticks are rarely considered as venomous animals despite that tick saliva contains several protein families present in venomous taxa and that many ixodida genera ...	2014	25006341
occurrence of tick-transmitted pathogens in dogs in jos, plateau state, nigeria.	canine babesiosis caused by babesia rossi, transmitted by haemaphysalis elliptica in south africa, has also been reported from nigeria. although h. leachi (sensu lato) is widespread in sub-saharan africa, published literature on the occurrence of canine babesiosis is meagre. it has been postulated that the genotype of babesia rossi erythrocyte membrane antigen 1 (brema1) may be linked to virulence of the specific isolate. the primary objective of this study was to detect and characterise tick-bo ...	2014	24661795
rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus aquaporin as an effective vaccine antigen to protect against cattle tick infestations.	vaccination as a control method against the cattle tick, rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus has been practiced since the introduction of two products in the mid-1990s. there is a need for a vaccine that could provide effective control of r. microplus in a more consistent fashion than existing products. during our transcriptome studies of r. microplus, several gene coding regions were discovered to encode proteins with significant amino acid similarity to aquaporins.	2014	25306139
anaplasma infection in ticks, livestock and human in ghaemshahr, mazandaran province, iran.	anaplasmosis is an important issue for animal breeders in terms of economic losses as well as a health concern to human. ticks are considered as the main vector of this disease. lack of documented information about anaplasma species in iran was the scope of this study to determine the population of ticks and the presence of anaplasma in ticks, domestic ruminants and also human beings in northern iran.	2014	26114134
a new multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis reveals different clusters for anaplasma phagocytophilum circulating in domestic and wild ruminants.	anaplasma phagocytophilum is a tick-borne intragranulocytic alpha-proteobacterium. it is the causative agent of tick-borne fever in ruminants, and of human granulocytic anaplasmosis in humans, two diseases which are becoming increasingly recognized in europe and the usa. however, while several molecular typing tools have been developed over the last years, few of them are appropriate for in-depth exploration of the epidemiological cycle of this bacterium. therefore we have developed a multiple-l ...	2014	25228371
the role of cats in the eco-epidemiology of spotted fever group diseases.	mediterranean spotted fever (msf), whose etiological agent is r. conorii, is one of the oldest described vector-borne infectious diseases. although it is endemic in the mediterranean area, clinical cases have also been reported in other regions. r. massiliae-bar29 is related to msf cases. this strain is distributed worldwide. r. conorii and r. massiliae-bar29 are transmitted by ticks. dogs are considered the sentinel of r. conorii infection. cats could also be involved in their transmission. ric ...	2014	25084969
frequency of piroplasms babesia microti and cytauxzoon felis in stray cats from northern italy.	emerging diseases caused by piroplasms pose a health risk for man and other animals, and domestic cats have been proposed as potential reservoirs for some piroplasm infections. the aim of this study was to identify the frequency of the piroplasms babesia microti and cytauxzoon felis in stray cats from northern italy and to identify possible risk factors associated with these infections. blood samples from 260 stray cats enrolled in a trap-neuter-release (tnr) program in northern italy were exami ...	2014	24895629
proteomic analysis of cattle tick rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus saliva: a comparison between partially and fully engorged females.	the cattle tick rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus is one of the most harmful parasites affecting bovines. similarly to other hematophagous ectoparasites, r. microplus saliva contains a collection of bioactive compounds that inhibit host defenses against tick feeding activity. thus, the study of tick salivary components offers opportunities for the development of immunological based tick control methods and medicinal applications. so far, only a few proteins have been identified in cattle tick ...	2014	24762651
abstracts of the 1st conference on neglected vectors and vector-borne diseases (eurnegvec): with management committee and working group meetings of the cost action td1303, april 8-11, 2014, cluj-napoca, romania.		2014	25078468
fox on the run--molecular surveillance of fox blood and tissue for the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens in austria.	the red fox (vulpes vulpes) is a widespread species, harbouring many pathogens relevant for humans and pets. indeed, anaplasma spp., ehrlichia canis and rickettsia spp. among the bacteria and hepatozoon canis as well as babesia sp. among the parasites have been the focus of several studies.	2014	25413694
questionnaire-based survey on the distribution and incidence of canine babesiosis in countries of western europe.	the incidence of canine babesiosis may vary considerably from one country to another depending on the distribution of the causative parasite species and their specific vectors. the aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical occurrence of canine babesiosis diagnosed in european veterinary clinics and propose an updated map of the disease distribution in western europe. questionnaires were sent to companion animal veterinary clinics in spain, france, benelux, germany and austria. the an ...	2014	24626325
a randomized, blinded, controlled and multi-centered field study comparing the efficacy and safety of bravecto (fluralaner) against frontline (fipronil) in flea- and tick-infested dogs.	fluralaner, a new molecular entity of the isoxazoline class, has potent insecticidal and acaricidal activity and can be safely administered orally to dogs.	2014	24593931
community-based control of the brown dog tick in a region with high rates of rocky mountain spotted fever, 2012-2013.	rocky mountain spotted fever (rmsf) transmitted by the brown dog tick (rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato) has emerged as a significant public health risk on american indian reservations in eastern arizona. during 2003-2012, more than 250 rmsf cases and 19 deaths were documented among arizona's american indian population. the high case fatality rate makes community-level interventions aimed at rapid and sustained reduction of ticks urgent. beginning in 2012, a two year pilot integrated tick pre ...	2014	25479289
inadequacy of igm antibody tests for diagnosis of rocky mountain spotted fever.	among 13 suspected rocky mountain spotted fever (rmsf) cases identified through an enhanced surveillance program in tennessee, antibodies to rickettsia rickettsii were detected in 10 (77%) patients using a standard indirect immunofluorescent antibody (ifa) assay. immunoglobulin m (igm) antibodies were observed for 6 of 13 patients (46%) without a corresponding development of igg, and for 3 of 10 patients (30%) at least 1 year post-onset. however, recent infection with a spotted fever group ricke ...	2014	25092818
phylogeography of rickettsia rickettsii genotypes associated with fatal rocky mountain spotted fever.	rocky mountain spotted fever (rmsf), a tick-borne zoonosis caused by rickettsia rickettsii, is among the deadliest of all infectious diseases. to identify the distribution of various genotypes of r. rickettsii associated with fatal rmsf, we applied molecular typing methods to samples of dna extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens obtained at autopsy from 103 case-patients from seven countries who died of rmsf. complete sequences of one or more intergenic regions were am ...	2014	24957541
piroplasmosis in wildlife: babesia and theileria affecting free-ranging ungulates and carnivores in the italian alps.	piroplasmosis are among the most relevant diseases of domestic animals. babesia is emerging as cause of tick-borne zoonosis worldwide and free-living animals are reservoir hosts of several zoonotic babesia species. we investigated the epidemiology of babesia spp. and theileria spp. in wild ungulates and carnivores from northern italy to determine which of these apicomplexan species circulate in wildlife and their prevalence of infection.	2014	24533742
survey of toxoplasma gondii and neospora caninum, haemotropic mycoplasmas and other arthropod-borne pathogens in cats from albania.	albania is a country on the western part of the balkan peninsula. the mediterranean climate is favourable for the stable development of many arthropod species, which are incriminated as vectors for various agents. recently, several papers have reported on epidemiological aspects of parasitic diseases including vector-borne disease agents of dogs with zoonotic characteristics in albania. however, data on the epidemiology of feline parasitic and bacterial agents in albania is scarce.	2014	24517118
five-month comparative efficacy evaluation of three ectoparasiticides against adult cat fleas (ctenocephalides felis), flea egg hatch and emergence, and adult brown dog ticks (rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato) on dogs housed outdoors.	this study was designed to compare the efficacy of three topical combinations on dogs in outdoor conditions against adult cat fleas (ctenocephalides felis), flea egg hatch and emergence, and against adult brown dog ticks (rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato). treatment was performed on day 0 with a placebo; dinotefuran, pyriproxifen and permethrin (dpp); fipronil and (s)-methoprene (fm) or imidacloprid and permethrin (ip). dogs (n = 32), housed outdoors for 7 months, were treated monthly for fou ...	2014	25547077
effects of sex and reproductive state on interactions between free-roaming domestic dogs.	free-roaming dogs (canis familiaris) are common worldwide, often maintaining diseases of domestic pets and wildlife. management of these dogs is difficult and often involves capture, treatment, neutering and release. information on the effects of sex and reproductive state on intraspecific contacts and disease transmission is currently lacking, but is vital to improving strategic management of their populations. we assessed the effects of sex and reproductive state on short-term activity pattern ...	2014	25541983
first report of rickettsia felis in china.	rickettsia felis is a recently described flea-borne spotted fever group rickettsia that is an emerging human pathogen. although there is information on the organism from around the world, there is no information on the organism in china.	2014	25510419
intraoperative bleeding in dogs from grenada seroreactive to anaplasma platys and ehrlichia canis.	frequent exposure of grenadian dogs to rhipicephalus sanguineus results in anaplasma platys, and ehrlichia canis seroreactivity. during elective surgeries, substantial intraoperative hemorrhage occurs in some seroreactive dogs.	2014	25274547
identification of the pharmacophore of the cc chemokine-binding proteins evasin-1 and -4 using phage display.	to elucidate the ligand-binding surface of the cc chemokine-binding proteins evasin-1 and evasin-4, produced by the tick rhipicephalus sanguineus, we sought to identify the key determinants responsible for their different chemokine selectivities by expressing evasin mutants using phage display. we first designed alanine mutants based on the evasin-1·ccl3 complex structure and an in silico model of evasin-4 bound to ccl3. the mutants were displayed on m13 phage particles, and binding to chemokine ...	2014	25266725
detection of ehrlichia canis in domestic cats in the central-western region of brazil.	ehrlichiosis is a worldwide distributed disease caused by different bacteria of the ehrlichia genus that are transmitted by arthropod vectors. its occurrence in dogs is considered endemic in several regions of brazil. regarding cats, however, few studies have been done and, consequently, there is not enough data available. in order to detect ehrlichia spp. in cats from the central-western region of brazil, blood and serum samples were collected from a regional population of 212 individuals origi ...	2014	25242952
tick-borne pathogen - reversed and conventional discovery of disease.	molecular methods have increased the number of known microorganisms associated with ticks significantly. some of these newly identified microorganisms are readily linked to human disease while others are yet unknown to cause human disease. the face of tick-borne disease discovery has changed with more diseases now being discovered in a "reversed way," detecting disease cases only years after the tick-borne microorganism was first discovered. compared to the conventional discovery of infectious d ...	2014	25072045
transmission-blocking vaccines: focus on anti-vector vaccines against tick-borne diseases.	tick-borne diseases are a potential threat that account for significant morbidity and mortality in human population worldwide. vaccines are not available to treat several of the tick-borne diseases. with the emergence and resurgence of several tick-borne diseases, emphasis on the development of transmission-blocking vaccines remains increasing. in this review, we provide a snap shot on some of the potential candidates for the development of anti-vector vaccines (a form of transmission-blocking v ...	2014	25503555
wildlife reservoirs for vector-borne canine, feline and zoonotic infections in austria.	austria's mammalian wildlife comprises a large variety of species, acting and interacting in different ways as reservoir and intermediate and definitive hosts for different pathogens that can be transmitted to pets and/or humans. foxes and other wild canids are responsible for maintaining zoonotic agents, e.g. echinococcus multilocularis, as well as pet-relevant pathogens, e.g. hepatozoon canis. together with the canids, and less commonly felids, rodents play a major role as intermediate and par ...	2014	25830102
case report: molecular evidence of anaplasma platys infection in two women from venezuela.	this article presents two case reports of anaplasma platys detection in two women from venezuela. both patients were exposed to rhipicephalus sanguineus, the presumed tick vector, and experienced chronic, nonspecific clinical signs including headaches and muscle pains. intra-platelet inclusion bodies resembling a. platys were observed in buffy coat smears and a. platys dna was amplified and sequenced from whole blood; however, treatment with doxycycline did not alleviate their symptoms. these ca ...	2014	25266347
ixodes ricinus and its transmitted pathogens in urban and peri-urban areas in europe: new hazards and relevance for public health.	tick-borne diseases represent major public and animal health issues worldwide. ixodes ricinus, primarily associated with deciduous and mixed forests, is the principal vector of causative agents of viral, bacterial, and protozoan zoonotic diseases in europe. recently, abundant tick populations have been observed in european urban green areas, which are of public health relevance due to the exposure of humans and domesticated animals to potentially infected ticks. in urban habitats, small and medi ...	2014	25520947
the speed of kill of fluralaner (bravecto™) against ixodes ricinus ticks on dogs.	pathogens that are transmitted by ticks to dogs, such as anaplasma phagocytophilum, babesia spp., borrelia burgdorferi sensu latu, and ehrlichia canis, are an increasing problem in the world. one method to prevent pathogen transmission to dogs is to kill the ticks before transmission occurs. fluralaner (bravecto™) is a novel isoxazoline insecticide and acaricide that provides long persistent antiparasitic activity following systemic administration. this study investigated the speed of kill of fl ...	2014	25406442
pathogenic landscape of transboundary zoonotic diseases in the mexico-us border along the rio grande.	transboundary zoonotic diseases, several of which are vector borne, can maintain a dynamic focus and have pathogens circulating in geographic regions encircling multiple geopolitical boundaries. global change is intensifying transboundary problems, including the spatial variation of the risk and incidence of zoonotic diseases. the complexity of these challenges can be greater in areas where rivers delineate international boundaries and encompass transitions between ecozones. the rio grande serve ...	2014	25453027
borrelia garinii and rickettsia monacensis in ixodes ricinus ticks, algeria.		2014	25272139
bilateral mandibular pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis and pulmonary nodules in a dog with bartonella henselae bacteremia.	this report describes a 2-year-old collie dog with pulmonary nodules, visualized by computed tomographic (ct) scan, with evidence of bartonella henselae bacteremia and pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis. clinical signs resolved with antimicrobial therapy.	2014	25320386
immediate efficacy and persistent speed of kill of a novel oral formulation of afoxolaner (nexgardtm) against induced infestations with ixodes ricinus ticks.	ticks are hematophageous arthropods that transmit a wide spectrum of pathogens to human and animals. the ability of an acaricidal product to kill ticks quickly provides an important added benefit, especially as protecting dogs from tick bites remains the best preventive measure against tick-borne diseases. the speed of kill of afoxolaner in a novel soft chewable formulation (nexgardtm) against induced infestations with ixodes ricinus adult ticks was evaluated during a full-month negative control ...	2014	25261196
population-based passive tick surveillance and detection of expanding foci of blacklegged ticks ixodes scapularis and the lyme disease agent borrelia burgdorferi in ontario, canada.	we identified ticks submitted by the public from 2008 through 2012 in ontario, canada, and tested blacklegged ticks ixodes scapularis for borrelia burgdorferi and anaplasma phagocytophilum. among the 18 species of ticks identified, i. scapularis, dermacentor variabilis, ixodes cookei and amblyomma americanum represented 98.1% of the 14,369 ticks submitted. rates of blacklegged tick submission per 100,000 population were highest in ontario's eastern region; d. variabilis in central west and easte ...	2014	25171252
identification of tick-borne pathogens in ticks feeding on humans in turkey.	the importance of tick-borne diseases is increasing all over the world, including turkey. the tick-borne disease outbreaks reported in recent years and the abundance of tick species and the existence of suitable habitats increase the importance of studies related to the epidemiology of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in turkey. the aim of this study was to investigate the presence of and to determine the infection rates of some tick-borne pathogens, including babesia spp., borrelia burgdorferi se ...	2014	25101999
high-throughput screening of tick-borne pathogens in europe.	due to increased travel, climatic, and environmental changes, the incidence of tick-borne disease in both humans and animals is increasing throughout europe. therefore, extended surveillance tools are desirable. to accurately screen tick-borne pathogens (tbps), a large scale epidemiological study was conducted on 7050 ixodes ricinus nymphs collected from france, denmark, and the netherlands using a powerful new high-throughput approach. this advanced methodology permitted the simultaneous detect ...	2014	25120960
ticks infesting humans in italy and associated pathogens.	ticks may transmit a large variety of pathogens, which cause illnesses in animals and humans, commonly referred to as to tick-borne diseases (tbds). the incidence of human tbds in italy is underestimated because of poor surveillance and the scant amount of studies available.	2014	25023709
intravascular persistence of anaplasma platys, ehrlichia chaffeensis, and ehrlichia ewingii dna in the blood of a dog and two family members.	anaplasmosis, caused by anaplasma phagocytophilum and anaplasma platys, and ehrlichiosis, caused by ehrlichia chaffeensis, ehrlichia ewingii, the "panola mountain ehrlichia" and ehrlichia muris-like pathogens have been identified as emerging tick borne infectious diseases in dogs and human patients. persistent intravascular infection with these bacteria is well documented in dogs, but is less well documented in human beings.	2014	24984562
serological detection of anaplasma phagocytophilum, borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and ehrlichia canis antibodies and dirofilaria immitis antigen in a countrywide survey in dogs in poland.	canine vector-borne diseases (cvbds) have increasingly become a focus of attention in the past few years. nevertheless, in many parts of europe information on their occurrence is still scarce. in a large study in poland 3,094 serum samples taken from dogs throughout all 16 polish provinces were tested using a commercial kit for the detection of circulating antibodies against anaplasma phagocytophilum, borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and ehrlichia canis and of dirofilaria immitis antigen. a total ...	2014	24974092
a 24-48 h fed amblyomma americanum tick saliva immuno-proteome.	multiple tick saliva proteins, the majority of which are unknown, confer tick resistance in repeatedly infested animals. the objective of this study was to identify the 24-48 h fed amblyomma americanum tick saliva immuno-proteome. the 24-48 h tick-feeding phase is critical to tick parasitism as it precedes important events in tick biology, blood meal feeding and disease agent transmission. fed male, 24 and 96 h fed female phage display cdna expression libraries were biopanned using rabbit antibo ...	2014	24962723
survey of selected tick-borne diseases in dogs in finland.	due to climate changes during the last decades, ticks have progressively spread into higher latitudes in northern europe. although some tick borne diseases are known to be endemic in finland, to date there is limited information with regard to the prevalence of these infections in companion animals. we determined the antibody and dna prevalence of the following organisms in randomly selected client-owned and clinically healthy hunting dogs living in finland: ehrlichia canis (ec), anaplasma phago ...	2014	24957468
chronic coinfections in patients diagnosed with chronic lyme disease: a systematic review.	often, the controversial diagnosis of chronic lyme disease is given to patients with prolonged, medically unexplained physical symptoms. many such patients also are treated for chronic coinfections with babesia, anaplasma, or bartonella in the absence of typical presentations, objective clinical findings, or laboratory confirmation of active infection. we have undertaken a systematic review of the literature to evaluate several aspects of this practice.	2014	24929022
canine infection with dirofilaria immitis, borrelia burgdorferi, anaplasma spp., and ehrlichia spp. in the united states, 2010-2012.	the geographic distribution of canine infection with vector-borne disease agents in the united states appears to be expanding.	2014	24886589
seroprevalence of some vector-borne infections of dogs in hungary.	the first comprehensive study on the prevalence of canine vector-borne pathogens (anaplasma phagocytophilum, borrelia burgdorferi, ehrlichia canis, and dirofilaria immitis) was carried in hungary because, except for babesiosis and dirofilariosis caused by dirofilaria repens, there were no data on their regional distribution and prevalence. in 2011 and 2012, 1305 blood samples were collected from randomly selected, apparently healthy pet dogs in 167 localities of 19 counties of hungary. all sera ...	2014	24689833
serological and molecular prevalence of selected canine vector borne pathogens in blood donor candidates, clinically healthy volunteers, and stray dogs in north carolina.	canine vector borne diseases (cvbds) comprise illnesses caused by a spectrum of pathogens that are transmitted by arthropod vectors. some dogs have persistent infections without apparent clinical, hematological or biochemical abnormalities, whereas other dogs develop acute illnesses, persistent subclinical infections, or chronic debilitating diseases. the primary objective of this study was to screen healthy dogs for serological and molecular evidence of regionally important cvbds.	2014	24655461
bacterial and protozoal agents of feline vector-borne diseases in domestic and stray cats from southern portugal.	feline vector-borne diseases (fvbd) have emerged in recent years, showing a wider geographic distribution and increased global prevalence. in addition to their veterinary importance, domestic cats play a central role in the transmission cycles of some fvbd agents by acting as reservoirs and sentinels, a circumstance that requires a one health approach. the aim of the present work was to molecularly detect feline vector-borne bacteria and protozoa with veterinary and zoonotic importance, and to a ...	2014	24655431
detection of microbial agents in ticks collected from migratory birds in central italy.	tick species characterization and molecular studies were performed within ornithological surveys conducted during 2010 and 2011 in the lazio region of central italy. a total of 137 ticks were collected from 41 migratory birds belonging to 17 species (four partial migrants and 13 long-distance migrants). most ticks were nymphs, with a predominance of hyalomma marginatum marginatum and h. m. rufipes, and a small portion of ixodes and amblyomma species. all tick species analyzed were infected, and ...	2014	24576218
survey on cattle ticks in nur, north of iran.	to survey the prevalence of cattle ticks in nur county and prepare a list of tick fauna in this district.	2014	25182439
gene cloning, expression and immunogenicity of the protective antigen subolesin in dermacentor silvarum.	subolesin (4d8), the ortholog of insect akirins, is a highly conserved protective antigen and thus has the potential for development of a broad-spectrum vaccine against ticks and mosquitoes. to date, no protective antigens have been characterized nor tested as candidate vaccines against dermacentor silvarum bites and transmission of associated pathogens. in this study, we cloned the open reading frame (orf) of d. silvarum 4d8 cdna (ds4d8), which consisted of 498 bp encoding 165 amino acid residu ...	2014	24623890
a seventeen-year epidemiological surveillance study of borrelia burgdorferi infections in two provinces of northern spain.	this paper reports a 17-year seroepidemiological surveillance study of borrelia burgdorferi infection, performed with the aim of improving our knowledge of the epidemiology of this pathogen. serum samples (1,179) from patients (623, stratified with respect to age, sex, season, area of residence and occupation) bitten by ticks in two regions of northern spain were ifa-tested for b. burgdorferi antibodies. positive results were confirmed by western blotting. antibodies specific for b. burgdorferi ...	2014	24487455
hard tick factors implicated in pathogen transmission.	ticks are the most common arthropod vector, after mosquitoes, and are capable of transmitting the greatest variety of pathogens. for both humans and animals, the worldwide emergence or re-emergence of tick-borne disease is becoming increasingly problematic. despite being such an important issue, our knowledge of pathogen transmission by ticks is incomplete. several recent studies, reviewed here, have reported that the expression of some tick factors can be modulated in response to pathogen infec ...	2014	24498444
control of tick infestations and pathogen prevalence in cattle and sheep farms vaccinated with the recombinant subolesin-major surface protein 1a chimeric antigen.	despite the use of chemical acaricides, tick infestations continue to affect animal health and production worldwide. tick vaccines have been proposed as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative for tick control. vaccination with the candidate tick protective antigen, subolesin (sub), has been shown experimentally to be effective in controlling vector infestations and pathogen infection. furthermore, escherichia coli membranes containing the chimeric antigen composed of sub fused ...	2014	24398155
insecticide/acaricide resistance in fleas and ticks infesting dogs and cats.	this review defines insecticide/acaricide resistance and describes the history, evolution, types, mechanisms, and detection of resistance as it applies to chemicals currently used against fleas and ticks of dogs and cats and summarizes resistance reported to date. we introduce the concept of refugia as it applies to flea and tick resistance and discuss strategies to minimize the impact and inevitable onset of resistance to newer classes of insecticides. our purpose is to provide the veterinary p ...	2014	24393426
laboratory identification of arthropod ectoparasites.	the collection, handling, identification, and reporting of ectoparasitic arthropods in clinical and reference diagnostic laboratories are discussed in this review. included are data on ticks, mites, lice, fleas, myiasis-causing flies, and bed bugs. the public health importance of these organisms is briefly discussed. the focus is on the morphological identification and proper handling and reporting of cases involving arthropod ectoparasites, particularly those encountered in the united states. o ...	2014	24396136
effects of homologous and heterologous immunization on the reservoir competence of domestic dogs for rickettsia conorii (israelensis).	a number of spotted fever group (sfg) rickettsiae cause serious infections in humans. several antigenically related rickettsial agents may coexist within the same geographical area, and humans or vertebrate hosts may be sequentially exposed to multiple sfg agents. we assessed whether exposure of a vertebrate reservoir to one sfg rickettsia will affect the host's immune response to a related pathogen and the efficiency of transmission to uninfected ticks. two pairs of dogs were each infected with ...	2014	24201056
rickettsia conorii israelensis in rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks, sardinia, italy.	the presence of tick-borne rickettsia spp. was examined by pcr using dna samples extracted from 254 ticks collected from mammals originating from northern and eastern sardinia, italy. the spotted fever group rickettsial agent rickettsia conorii israelensis was detected in 3 rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks from a dog for the first time in this geographical area. in addition, ri. massiliae, ri. slovaca, and ri. aeschlimannii were detected in rh. turanicus, rh. sanguineus, dermacentor marginatus, an ...	2014	24852264
characterisation of ecto- and endoparasites in domestic cats from tirana, albania.	during 2008 to 2011, faecal samples, ear swabs, and ectoparasites obtained by full body search and total body comb were collected from 252 cats originating from the greater tirana area. faecal samples were examined using the mcmaster and baermann techniques, and a subset of 58 samples was tested for giardia-specific antigen using a coproantigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa). the ear swabs were examined for the presence of parasitic mites. overall, almost 93% of the cats were identifi ...	2014	24994454
detection of francisella-like endosymbiont in hyalomma rufipes from ethiopia.	the expanding family of francisellaceae includes the genus francisella, where several pathogen bacteria, e.g. the zoonotic f. tularensis, and different francisella-like agents belong to. francisella-like endosymbionts (fles) are widespread in hard and soft ticks and their pathogenicity is unknown. the examination of 296 ticks collected in ethiopia was performed for the detection of f. tularensis and fles using polymerase chain reaction (pcr) assays based on the amplification of 16s rrna, sdha an ...	2014	25108781
rhipicephalus rossicus and not r. sanguineus is the dominant tick species of dogs in the wetlands of the danube delta, romania.	changes in the distribution of tick species are among the major causes for the increase in prevalence of zoonotic diseases worldwide, with tick-borne diseases' prevalence showing an emerging pattern. one of these ticks, rhipicephalus rossicus, which is reported occasionally from humans, seems to be particularly interesting because of its demonstrated vectorial role for zoonotic pathogens like francisella tularensis, coxiella burnetii, or cchf and west nile viruses. here we report a case of domin ...	2014	24893695
occurrence of hepatozoon canis and cercopithifilaria bainae in an off-host population of rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks.	hepatozoon canis (eucoccidiorida, hepatozoidae) and the filarioid cercopithifilaria bainae (spirurida, onchocercidae) are tick-transmitted infectious agents of dogs, highly prevalent in the mediterranean basin in association with rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato. ticks were collected from the environment every 25±2 days in a confined location in southern italy where a community of dogs lives, from august 2012 to july 2013. in order to study the occurrence of h. canis and c. bainae, 1091 tick ...	2014	24594107
failure of imidocarb dipropionate and toltrazuril/emodepside plus clindamycin in treating hepatozoon canis infection.	hepatozoonosis caused by hepatozoon canis (eucoccidiorida, hepatozoidae) is among the most widespread vector-borne infections of dogs, primarily transmitted by rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks. based on the absence of a consensus on the treatment regimes for canine hepatozoonosis, the present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of imidocarb dipropionate (5-6 mg/kg subcutaneously once a week for 6 weeks), and of toltrazuril/emodepside (procox(®), 15 mg/kg once a day for 6 days) in assoc ...	2014	24439769
disease control through fertility control: secondary benefits of animal birth control in indian street dogs.	we sought to (1) survey sexually intact street dogs for a wide range of diseases in three cities in rajasthan, india and (2) evaluate links between the health of non-treated dogs and both the presence and duration of animal birth control (abc) programs. abc regimes sterilize and vaccinate stray dogs in an attempt to control their population and the spread of rabies. they are commonly suggested to improve the health of those dogs they serve, but here we provide evidence that these benefits also e ...	2014	24239212
a survey of ixodid tick species and molecular identification of tick-borne pathogens.	this study was undertaken in two different climatic areas of turkey to determine the presence of tick-borne pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. the ticks were removed from humans, pooled according to species and developmental stages, and analyzed by pcr, reverse line blot (rlb) and sequencing. of the 2333 removed ticks from 10 species, 1238 (53.06%) were obtained from the arid cold zone, and the remaining 1095 (46.93%) were obtained from the humid zone. the removed ticks were identif ...	2014	24424312
[molecular detection of rickettsia massiliae and anaplasma platys infecting rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks and dogs, bahía blanca (argentina)].	rickettsioses, ehrlichioses and anaplasmoses are caused by gram negative obligate intracellular bacteria and transmitted mainly by arthropods.	2014	25491455
molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens in rhipicephalus sanguineus group ticks.	the rhipicephalus sanguineus group includes some of the most widespread dog ticks, whose identification currently represents a difficult task due to the morphological similarities of these ixodid species. recently, following the morphological and molecular characterization of tick specimens collected from dogs in all continents, rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), rhipicephalus turanicus and three different operational taxonomic units (namely rhipicephalus sp. i-iii) have been identified ...	2014	25113982